Matthew 25:40 has been mentioned several times in recent diaries, with good reason. It is a verse that defines Jesus instructions on how to treat the disadvantaged. Yet it is a verse that is ignored in the policies and attitudes of Conservative Christians.
Follow along as we take a closer look at this important message below the fold.
Matthew 25:40 says
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
In the New International Version of the Bible
Seems pretty clear, doesn't it? But in case he might have been misunderstood we should look at the other verses around it for more explanation.
To avoid cluttering the diary the whole of Chapter 25 of Matthew is at:
http://bibleresources.bible.com/...
Open it in another window so you can go back and forth.
I like the resources they have there, including the ability to look at many different translations.
Starting at verse 35 Jesus tells us who these 'least' of his brothers are-the hungry, the sick, those in prison, and so on. The disadvantaged in society, in other words. Those who are not able to help themselves. And we do not have to know the people either, Jesus is specific about helping strangers to start with, and then goes on. At this point the righteous think that Jesus is talking about their helping and giving to him, and ask in verses 37-39 when they have ever helped Jesus directly. They do not even know at this point that they have given to him.
And this is when he says that whatever they have done for the least of these people-the sick, the hungry, strangers, the naked, those in prison, they have done for him.
These righteous did not help the poor and homeless because they thought it would get them to heaven. They did it because it was the right thing to do. And without knowing it, that got them into heaven.
And those that did not help the disadvantaged? In verses 41 through 46 they are sent to share in the eternal fires of hell along with the devil. So Jesus is very clear that it is not just extraordinary action that got the righteous into heaven, it was that the actions they took to help the disadvantaged were for them normal-again, they did it just because it was the right thing to do.
Why is this important? Let's go back to verses 31-34. This division of the righteous from the unrighteous is the final separation at the return of Jesus of those who will go to heaven and those who will go to hell. This is it-Judgement Day.
What criteria does Jesus use on Judgement Day to separate the righteous from the unrighteous? Following religious laws? No. Following secular laws? No. Going to church every week? No. Tithing? No. Being straight or gay? No. Being rich? No. Being powerful? No.
The only criteria for the final determination of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell is how we have treated others.
To provide more context look at the other parables in Matthew 25. First is the parable of the ten virgins, and second is the parable of the talents (talents being a unit of money). Look at the Parable of the Talents first. In this case Jesus is talking about 3 people who have been given 3 different amounts of money, and what they have done with it. The two that have taken what they were given and improved upon it are rewarded, while the one who has not even tried is punished. In other words, do what you can with what you have to improve your world. The Parable of the Ten Virgins tells us to always be prepared for the return of Jesus (after which he will separate the sheep from the goats, as described above), because we can never know when or where he will return.
The three parables taken together tell us to be prepared at all times, by improving on what we have and helping others whenever we can.
So the next time a conservative spouts off about cutting social programs or any help for the needy, tell them about Matthew 25:40, and that the liberals and progressives are just doing what Jesus said. Then invite them to join you in helping the disadvantaged, so that they will not be caught unprepared.